Funding Effectiveness of TVET for Decent Employment and Inclusive Growth in Nigeria with Perspectives from China

Abstract

In the midst of abundant human and natural resources, Nigeria continues to be beleaguered with persistent unemployment, low productivity and poverty.  Key sectors of Nigeria’s economy which are expected to drive growth, such as infrastructure, retail and manufacturing services require services of personnel with post-basic and technical and vocational skills, but these skills are being produced in small numbers and with poor quality. The country has a vibrant and economically viable youth population that needs to be engaged in productive ventures to help make significant contributions to the national development of Africa’s largest economy and overcome their vulnerability to anti-social or anti-government activities against the security and peace of the country. This study explores the context of TVET in Nigeria against the background of the effectiveness of funding provision to TVET in the country. The study identified significant demand for TVET provision in Nigeria based on the analysis of key indicators of the context within which TVET operates. Also, the study showed that though the government has made funding available to education and TVET in Nigeria, the distribution of funds in expenditure contradicts effective utilization of  available limited resources and puts forward suggestions on effective funding of TVET in Nigeria by drawing on the successful experience of China. Taking China's successful TVET funding mechanism as  example, the study explores China's funding policies related to TVET and identify key factors for TVE's success in China in the face of global trends and provides a new perspective for TVET research from the Chinese model and the theory behind it that could be adopted in the utilization of limited public funding in Nigeria for effective TVET delivery in the country.

Keywords: Funding; TVET; Employment; Nigeria; China

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-36-06

Publication date: December 31^st 2019